In a recent development surrounding the hospitalization of Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, it has come to light that the Pentagon did not inform the White House about Austin's scheduled elective procedure at Walter Reed Medical Center on December 22nd. This undisclosed procedure led to complications for Austin, resulting in his subsequent return to Walter Reed on January 1st and subsequent admission to the ICU on January 2nd. Surprisingly, it was only on January 4th, three days later, that Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks and President Biden were informed of the grave details surrounding Austin's condition. The delay in communication has been attributed, in part, to Austin's chief of staff also falling ill.
Mark Esper, former defense secretary during the Trump administration, expressed his concerns over this incident. He pointed out that, under normal circumstances, it would be the responsibility of the defense secretary's chief of staff to convey such important information to the White House and others in the chain of command. However, in this case, it seems that she was unable to fulfill this duty. Esper questioned who else within Austin's inner circle was capable of making these crucial notifications. He emphasized the importance of maintaining a clear protocol for communication and the need to uphold civilian control over the military.
